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NEC Preseason Poll and Teams
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BROOKVILLE, N.Y. - LIU football senior Joe Amalfitano was named to the 2021 Preseason All-NEC Team as the Northeast Conference (NEC) hosted its virtual Media Day Tuesday. Amalfitano and senior wide receiver Derick Eugene joined LIU interim head coach Jonathan Gill on the broadcast, which aired on NECFrontRow and ESPN3.
 
Following their Northeast Conference championship spring season, the SHU Pioneers and Walter Payton Award hopeful Julius Chestnut earned four first-place votes to claim the top spot in the 2021 NEC Preseason Coaches' Poll. Spring season runner-up Duquesne and 2019 champion Central Connecticut State tied for second place in the coaches' preseason predicted order-of-finish. The former earned two top nods while the latter secured the lone remaining first-place vote. Bryant, which paced the circuit in scoring defense this past spring, finished fourth in the poll ahead of fifth-place Saint Francis U, which returns to competition for the first time since November 2019. New York rivals Long Island University and Wagner rounded out the poll results in sixth and seventh, respectively. Merrimack, which is ineligible for the title until 2023 due to the NCAA reclassification process, will contest a full NEC schedule.
 

Official #NECFB Preseason Poll ??

Reigning champion @SHUBigRed topped the voting.

Recent former champs @DuqFB (2018) and @CCSUBlueDevils (2019) tied for second place in the poll. #Kickoff2021 pic.twitter.com/MV71ZJU6zw

— NEC Football (@NECFootball) August 3, 2021

 
Additionally, it was announced that the Sharks' October 16 game against Merrimack will be aired nationally on ESPN3.
 
 

Eight featured #NECFB Battles exclusive to the ESPN app this fall SZN ???? pic.twitter.com/BEeYQSIPBn

— NEC Football (@NECFootball) August 3, 2021

 
 
And for the second year in a row, a member of LIU's defense earned preseason honors from the league's coaches. Amalfitano became the second Shark to earn the All-NEC honor, in a vote conducted by the league's coaches. Last year, lineman Anthony Lavio was the first ever to earn the honor.
 
Amalfitano started all four contests on the defensive side of the ball in LIU's shortened 2020 season. He posted six tackles on the year, but made the biggest impact off of the stat sheet, drawing several double-teams and creating constant pressure on opposing quarterbacks. The senior defended four passes and notched three official quarterback hurries.

LIU is slated to begin the 2021 season Thursday, September 2 on the road at Florida International.